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Zoro was quite content to get back to All Blue and his stupid husband. The journey from East Blue was endless despite a few encounters with contenders for the title of the best swordsman. He genuinely did not understand the need for newspapers to alert the world about his every move. But he had to admit that it allowed him to train even in his quietest moments.
So it was with pleasure that he walked through the doors of L'Océane, Sanji's restaurant. He knew it wasn't open yet, but the cooks were already hard at work in the kitchen. He could hear Sanji's voice shouting orders, confident but not aggressive. It made him smile with satisfaction.
Until he felt a blade slice through the air, grazing his left ear and rattling his two earrings. Stuck in the doorframe he had opened, the blade reflected the light from the neons on the ceiling as Zoro instinctively looked at the silhouette with its arm outstretched.
Sanji was there, his gaze piercing as he made sure of the intruder's identity. Guided by the sound of the earrings and the swordsman's smirk, the cook snorted and seemed to refrain from rolling his eyes. He approached with a calm stride and retrieved the blade from the wood, his gaze fixed on his husband's.
“You almost made me worry, stupid moss. It's been two months.
-Said it would take some time.
-Yeah, you said one month.
-It's the same.
-Sure, marimo.”
There was suddenly a brief moment of silence in the kitchen, as if the world had faded away to let the two men gauge each other up after this brief exchange. They looked each other in the eyes, their shoulders brushing against each other. It was after yet another snort that Sanji leaned in and gave Zoro a simple kiss on the lips. Zoro responded naturally with an amused smile and let the cook return to his work.
“Go to sleep, moss. You look terrible. I'll see you tomorrow.
-You won't feed me before then ?”
Sanji grumbled but seemed to spring into action, presenting a plate as if everything had been planned all along. He skillfully slid the plate to the edge of the counter and nodded.
“Eat and go to sleep. Now, get out of my kitchen.
-Sure, cook.”
Zoro took the dish that was now reserved for him and left the kitchen, letting Sanji's firm orders lull him back home.
The night had been calm and restful, his sleep undisturbed despite Sanji's obvious absence from the bed when he opened his eyes to the empty space beside him. Knowing the cook's habits, he took his time stretching and getting out of bed at his own pace. He had only just returned, so there was no rush.
After a good half hour, Zoro finally emerged from the bedroom after taking a shower that was probably far too quick in the cook's opinion. His body still numb from sleep despite his shower, Zoro headed toward the source of the sudden pleasant smell wafting through the hallway. He knew Sanji was already cooking for him and couldn't wait to eat breakfast after two months without being able to enjoy Sanji's special cooking. But when he arrived in the kitchen, he could easily tell that it wasn't Sanji who was cooking.
“Good morning, Moss.
-Morning, Dy.”
Dressed in a blue blouse cinched by a delicate lace corset and pants that hugged her slender, endless legs, it was Candy-chan who was cooking. He didn't expect to run into Candy so soon after his return, but he knew it could happen at any time. Today was a day like any other. Nothing was really that shocking.
“How was your journey, love?
-Good.
-Luffy ?
-Great.
-And the kids ?
-Didn't see them, Luffy sent them to Franky and Robin’s place for some “vacation.”
-You mean that the kids wanted some quiet moments without Luffy joking around.”
Zoro took the time to brush Candy's side with his right hand as he passed her to prepare a pot of tea. He had never liked the drink itself, but he had learned to appreciate certain infusions of particular leaves from Wano. Morning tea had become a kind of ritual that he couldn't escape, depending on the cook's mood.
“Yeah, I just arrived when Luffy started a new obsession.
-Oh ? What was it ?
-A rare golden beetle. No idea what it's called. Luffy got it into his head to find one and spent his days dragging me along on his search.
-Fascinating.
-No kidding. It was boring.”
Candy laughed briefly as she seemed to be already preparing the presentation of the onigiris she had made especially for Zoro. He never had to ask for anything. He knew that on the morning of his return, he would be treated to the best... Not that this wasn't the case every day, but... The onigiris on the morning of his return always had a special flavor.
-So that’s why you didn’t return before now.
-Yeah, Luffy wouldn't let me leave without finding that damn beetle.
-You found it then.
-Thank gods, yes. It was ridiculously small. But shiny.
The cook gave him a mocking smile as she placed the dish in front of Zoro, who had finally sat down at the table. She seemed to take charge of preparing the tea, brewing it and aerating it until it was ready to drink. She served Zoro a low cup, letting him taste it as usual. She waited for his approval of the taste and balance of the tea before serving him a little more generously and sitting down at his opposite. She rested her chin on one of her hands, her ocean-colored eyes resting on the swordsman's calm face.
Zoro could have felt observed, tense, but he was perfectly accustomed to this morning ritual. He knew that Candy liked to watch in silence, a slight smile on her lips. She was the only one who would stare at his scar on his eye for long minutes. Sanji wouldn't dare. And frankly, Zoro didn't care. He liked having the cook's attention at this right moment. He had missed them both.
“I took the day off.
-Nice.
-Want to do something special today ?
-Don’t know. What about you ?
-I asked first, marimo.”
Zoro snorted and shrugged. He knew that if Candy had taken the day off, then it would be a day they would share together, no matter what they did. And after two months away, he wasn't going to complain.
“Let's walk to the beach.
-Sure, cook.”
Candy smiled enthusiastically as she got ready to tidy up the kitchen, leaving Zoro to enjoy some peace and quiet to finish his breakfast.
They went to the beach as planned. The sun's rays were still gentle at this time of year, and the ocean breeze was still light enough to be just pleasant. This kind of outing was always a special moment for the cook. After all, they were in All Blue. The cook's dream. The dream of a lifetime.
And even though they were only forty years old, the cook had already waited a long time before being able to enjoy these bright days surrounded by rare sea creatures. Zoro hadn't really hesitated when Sanji asked him to stay with him. They had agreed on the possibility of traveling. Zoro wasn't resigned to giving up on the rest of the crew. He visited them at least once a year, when it wasn't them who came to see the cook and himself. The freedom Sanji had given him allowed him to enjoy days like the one they were experiencing, just the two of them.
Candy's hand reaching for his pulled him out of his thoughts. He focused his attention on her happy face as she gazed out at the sea. The few wrinkles visible under her eyes crinkled with contentment as her long curly hair framed her face in a fluid motion. The reflection of the earring she wore in her right ear, his earring, reminded him how closely their lives were linked. How he would not change his life for anything in the world.
They walked almost all morning, exchanging very few words. Sometimes they didn't need to. It was in this comfortable silence that Zoro knew that when they got home, lunch would be a little special... He sensed Candy's peculiar mood as she shot him various glances when they got home and headed for the kitchen. Although Zoro had planned to simply pour himself a glass of sake, he realized that the cook was in a teaching mood.
Candy stared at him as she leaned against the counter behind her. Reading her like an open book, Zoro sighed softly and began to roll up his sleeves. Smiling with satisfaction, the cook prepared a few tools and ingredients and waited for Zoro to brush against her body, shoulder to shoulder, so he could observe her every move.
Unlike Sanji, Candy enjoyed teaching Zoro how to cook. She liked having him in her sacred space so she could share her art with him. The first time she had offered, Zoro had been quite confused. He remembered refusing, but the look the cook gave him had changed his mind. She had seemed sad and disappointed by his refusal. He quickly changed his mind, but he wasn't very confident. At the time, he barely knew how to cook rice and was quite content with that. But he was tied to a cook. He had to admit that one day, he would have to learn to do better than that.
So she taught him. He remembered that the very first dish she had taught him was a fairly simple one, a dish that simmered for hours and whose balance lay in the seasoning and cutting of the vegetables.
He was no stranger to knives or the act of cutting, but Candy had taught him to cut what was inanimate, what deserved his patience and attention to detail.
Brunoise. Julienne. Even “mirepoix.” Candy loved teaching him the terms and didn't hesitate to slip in dozens of French words, her native language. Zoro could only remember a third of what she tried to teach him, but the effort he made seemed to be enough.
“At least you try,” she would say.
Later that day, Zoro took his usual nap, settling down on a random deck chair on the balcony of their house. Although the view of the sea was enjoyable, he preferred to focus on the sound of the waves and the light breeze to fall asleep peacefully... Until he woke up and enjoyed a completely different view.
Candy had joined him, leaning on the balcony railing, a cigarette in her hand. Zoro took the time to blink his eyes to chase away the last traces of sleep before pursing his lips slightly. He recognized that look, that air... Candy sometimes had difficult days that Zoro could only partially perceive, without really understanding what was going through the cook's mind. He could read melancholy on her face, worry mixed with obvious but confused annoyance.
When he had tried to talk to her the first time he had noticed this look, she had kindly asked him not to push the subject. She wasn't ready. He had respected her request and had opted for another solution over time.
Breathing softly, he got up and walked calmly over to her. He placed a tender hand between her shoulder blades, sliding his fingers over the soft silk fabric.
“I need some help with Wado.”
Candy gave him a sidelong glance, a knowing look that she did not comment on, however. She simply put out her cigarette and nodded. She then gave him a melancholy smile and kissed him on the cheek before heading inside the house.
A few minutes later, they found themselves in the living room, Zoro sitting on the sofa while Candy sat on the rug, Wado in her hands. She was maintaining it, oiling it as he had taught her the first time. He knew that entrusting her with the sword calmed the cook's mind during these difficult days.
However, it was on that day that he learned that this gesture was as precious to her as it was strange when she asked him a question he didn't expect.
“Isn't Sanji good enough to take care of Wado ?”
Zoro watched her out of the corner of his eye as he poured himself a glass of sake. He took time to think, drinking a silent sip while she respected his silence.
“He is. But I'm not.
-You're not what ?
-Good enough for him.”
Candy looked at him with that famous sharp and annoyed look, rare but intense. She didn't seem to want to comment, giving him time to express himself once again.
“Wado is my sword. Mine. A token of Kuina's memory. My ego says that nobody can take care of it as i do.
-But i am allowed.
-Yes, because you're respectful.
-Sanji's not ?
-He can be but Sanji is a stupid cook. Sanji knows knives. He knows how to slice the dead for the living. He doesn't know how to slice the living. But you, Dy, you know different.
-How so ?
-You acknowledge Wado's life. Her soul. You see through her as you see through me.”
Candy seemed to consider his words, her gaze never leaving the blade she was working on. She seemed as sad as she was confused.
“You seem to think that Sanji does not see through you.
-Oh he does. He sees the nakama, his dumb husband and rival. He's my equal in many ways in our shared life. You, otherwise, you see the lonely man. The swordman's old soul. You respect me as you would respect anyone because you know that respect is necessary. Respect is life. Respect is acceptance. And I know that you, Dy, had to fight for respect. For acceptance.”
The cook suddenly looked up at Zoro, her eyes full of emotion, her lips pressed tightly together. The swordsman held her gaze, sharing his kindness and calmness with her as she digested his words.
“Indeed”, she finally replied. Zoro gave her a quiet smile before continuing.
“Sanji had his fights. You had yours. It makes you both the best version of yourself and that's why I love both of you.
-Words of love this early, moss, really ?
-Don't flatter yourself. It's probably the alcohol.
-No doubt, marimo.”
Candy smiled back at him, her expression softening as she seemed to observe his face once again, as she loved to do. After a few seconds of hesitation, she sheathed Wado, the blade perfectly maintained. She then stood up to place it on its stand next to Kitetsu and Enma before returning to Zoro. She looked at him once more in silence, standing in front of him before kneeling on the rug at the swordsman's feet. She placed her hands on his legs and pressed her face against them.
“I love you, Zoro Roronoa.”
Zoro, who had been holding her gaze until then, snorted and looked away. He took the time to place the glass of sake on the table next to him, then took a long breath before resting his golden eyes on her blue ones. He then slid a hand onto the cook's cheek and smiled proudly and slyly, yet full of affection.
“I love you too, cook.”
Candy's eyes crinkled with contentment as she let out a frank and joyful laugh. She then leaned on her hands to straighten up and reach Zoro's smiling face. They shared a tender and intimate kiss that only they could perceive the love they shared.
Zoro was happy to finally be home.